Boot and shoe stretcher



May 31. 1927.

c. GREGORY BOOT AND SHOEIYSTRETCHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 8, 1925 a g? fl 1927. May c. GREGORY BOOT AND SHOE STRETCHER Filed May 8', 1925 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 .CZVVM a 9 g ml ot stretching I er possessing unli Patented May 31, 1927.

ha r CHARLES GREGORY, or

This in the applic Anothei n] STA TEES; FATE? DENISON, rnxas, Assrenon or ONE-HALF FREEMAN, or :IDENISON, TEXAS; 1

TO -WILLIAM 'BOO'I AND SHOE STRETGHER. j

Application filed May 8,

vention relates to a boot or shoe ary object of the invention stretcher of this charace that it may be employed boots or shoes of vari-.

"any 7 possibility of t. the boot or shoe in ation of the device.

eliminating object ot the invention is to provide a device of this character wherein the member forming a part thereof, is

interchangeable, thereby providing a stretch-.

mited adjustments.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a stretcher so constructed that it ma boot or sh \Vith the foregoing and ybe positioned'or removed from a. oe with facility. v

other o-b ects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangementot parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of themvention herein disclosed, may be made with in the scope of what is claimed, without des parting from the spir t of the nvention.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 s a plan view of a boot or shoe structure constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure'2is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of F Figure operating Figure 5 is a vertical igure 2.

4; is an elevational view of the member.

sectional view taken through the central portion of the expanding member as shown by Figure 8.

I Figure pivoted heel section invention.

Figure 7 is a sectional view takenon line 6 is an elevational view of the forming a part'of the 7-7 of Figure 2.

Figure expanding member.

a Figure main expanding section.

Referring to the reference character 8' is a side elevational view of an 9 is a side elevational view of the drawings in detail, the 5 indicates the body portion of the stretcher which is relatively long and hollow, t

he same being provided with an disposed end portion .6. Extendlly from the end portion are arms there being provided a pin 23 extending 1925. Serial No. 28,931;

This expanding member 8 embodies sections 9 and 10vrespectively, which sections are formed with openings 11 extending transv versely therethrough and which accommov date the arms 7, the openings 11' being slightly la-rgerthan the arms 7 to I permit a rocking movement of the sections with respect to the arms; I

Formed in the arms 7 are suitable ver-," tical openings that are adapted to register with openings formed insect-ions 9 and 10, which registering openings accommodate the screws 12, whereby the sections 9 and 10 are removably supported on the arms .7 to the end that sections of various sizes may be employed in connection'with arms 7.

The inner edges of sections, 9' and; 10 are formed with, grooves 14;, the inner-surfaces of} which groovesbeing curved as at 15, and clearly shown in Figure 1' ottheldrawings. Cooperating with the curved surfaces 15 is an expanding head 16,;which is also tor-med with outer curved edgesindicatedat 1 7,. which bear against the curved surfaces 1 5 tothe end that when the expanding head 16 movestowar'ds the outer end of the member 8, the sections 9 and 10 a're movedout- 'wardlyi away from eac'hother to accomplish l the stretching action for designed.

Formed integral with the-head is'a rearwardly extended portion 18 formed with a bore 19 to accommodate one end of the flexible member 20, whichflexible member extends into the body portion 5 where it has connection with the inner end of the screw 21, the end of the flexible member 20 being shown as secured within an: opening 20 formed in the inner end of the screw 21.

This screw 21 is formed with a handle22 the device is through the handle to secure the handle to the flexible member 20. The screw 21 operates through the threaded cap 24 which is screwed onto 'the'supporting section 5 so that as the screw 21 is i'otated,it' may inoveinto and out of the supporting section according to the direction of rotation of the screw.

In order thatthe inward movement" of I screw 21 will act on the'head. 16 to move it outwardly, a plurality of blocks 25 are p0.- sitioned on the flexible member 20 which i mam i 9 and 10 6 I grooves 14,1 handle 22'w1'11' engage the cap 24: and prevent further movement of the blocks engage the inner'surface of the 1101- low bar to prevent rotation of the flexible member. when the handle 12 is rotated to the end that as the'screw 21 moves into contact with block 25 disposed adjacent thereto, the blocks will be moved along with the flexible member 20, moving the head 16 accordingly, .i

and as head 16 moves to the outer end of the member 20. V 7 Thus it will be seen that due to this construction. the head 16 will be held Within the confines of the grooves at alltimes, eliminating anypossibilityet thehead 16 passing beyond the outer end of the expanding member 8. It will also be obvious that as the screwfllfis reversed, the inner edgesof the head 16 Will engage the shoulders at the opening to accommodate the threaded shank 28 formed with an ofiset portion '29 which is pivotally connected with the ears '30 formed inte 'ral with the body portion 5 so'that as the heel portion '27 moves downwardly; the oit'set portion 29 will engage the body portion 5 to resist downward movement of the heel member 27.

Supported at the rear of 'the expanding member is a spring 31 formed with a looped portion 32 the ends thereof being secured to theisectionsfof the expanding member by means of staples 33, so that the spring will normally act to urge the sections 9 and 10 of the expanding member towards 1 eachother, with the result that when the head 16 i moved'to' itsfnormal position'within the expanding member, the sections 9 and 10 will move under the action of the spring to their normal or closed positions.

. Associated with the expanding'member are auxiliary expanding members 34 that are provided with pins 35 adapted to be p0 sitioned' in suitable openings formed in the outer surfaces of the sections 9 and lO'to removably support: the members 34. "The member 3a is also formed with openings to that a pocket may be -formed in a'shoe to accommodate a corn on the foot of the I wearer oi": the shoe stretcher. by the device;

These members 37 may be of various for? mations and to thisend openings 38 are provided in the outer curved surfaces of the accoi'mnodatethe pin 36 provided on the re- .3 7 movable stretching members 37'Lto' theendmember 34't0 accommodate pins carried by interchangeable stretching members 37; I

. Iclamiz- In a stretcher '01"- the class described, a hollow body portion, an expandingmember including pivoted sections connected with the hollow body portion and having grooves formed in'the innersu'r faces thereof, a-mov'-',

able expanding member operating within the grooves, a flexlble 'member lll'the form ot a wire extending through the hollow body portion and having conn'ectionwith the expandingmember, plurality o f oblong blocks slidably mountedonthe flexible member, said blocks adapted to engage the inner surface of the hollow body portion towpre vent rotation of the flexible member, and means at one end of theflexible member for moving the movable ,expandingmember -be tween sections of the expanding member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, Ihave, hereto -aflixedmy signa- CHARLES GREGORY.

ture. 

